2006-09-12 05:23:45 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
From practicality point of view you are right.....
But for science freaks like me, this is great adventure.
2006-09-12 05:53:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You're another one of those people that needs to get teh list of everything every invented by NASA programs or things maintained by NASA programs and get rid of them. For a few more common items: velcro, UV coatings for windows, sunglasses etc, scratch resistant coating for glass of all kinds, anything that needs to use a satellite in any way like some cellular calls, most international phone calls, or any information you get from TV that went through a satellite relay--so much for 99% of all televised sporting events. You would also need to bring back books saying things like the earth is flat and is the center of the universe. Lots and Lots of safetly featuers on commercial airliners were inveneted through testing done by NASA, not the private corporatins. Yep, NASA doesn't do just space. NASA even created many multi-billion dollar corporations. Why? There's a link on their website which gives informatin about cool things they've inveneted or realised could be invented but aren't allowed to produce or market since they're a government agency and not a privately held corporaton. So, when one truly considers and can really comprehend the full ripple effect NASA has had on our quality of life, one will realise they don't get enough money. At least they have the best habits for being effieicnt with the money they're allocated. They are one of the least funded sections of our government. The other parts could learn great lessons from NASA about how to do more with less.
2006-09-12 16:14:27 · answer #2 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anna Marie's answer is good & hits the nail on the head. If you have no curiosity what the universe is about, you miss much of what life is about. Not only is space science unimportant to you, but anything that doesn't involve making a buck or doesn't feed your ego is unimportant to you. Also, you can't equate the lack of a space program with saving the poor. Many people interested in the universe, work for the poor. People who would kill the space program don't care about the poor anymore than those interested the universe, probably less so.
2006-09-12 13:54:56 · answer #3 · answered by litesong1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you are not the least bit alone. Many, many other people also share your view. Thomas Jefferson started the US patent office, and subsequently there were two attempts in Congress in the 1800s to shut it down. The thinking was that it is a waste of money because "everything that has any REAL USE to mankind has already been invented, and any future inventions are just alot of hooey." I believe you share their thinking. In the late 1880s a Scottish immigrant by the name of Alexander Graham Bell showed up on the doorstep of Mark Twain and described a new corporation he was forming called AT&T that proposed to make and sell telephones and telephone service so that one day every household in America would have a "telephone". He offered to sell Mark Twain a 50% interest in this corporation for $10,000 dollars, but Mark Twain turned him down. He said that idea is just too crazy and is probably a total waste of money. I think you agree with Mark Twain. In the1940s it was also said that "television" is a GREAT idea, but it is just TOO expensive that no one except the super rich will ever be able to afford one. I think you would agree, don't you? And in the 1970s there was a nerdly guy who dropped out of Harvard because he thought someday not too far in the future, almost every household will have a home computer, and he wanted to be the one to provide all the software for them. But all the major companies thought he was totally luney so he founded a company himself called "Microsoft" in his garage instead. I think you would agree that he was just wasting his time, wouldn't you? And now there are people who believe that humanity will sometime soon spread out across the solar system, and ultimately the galaxy, but they are just wasting everybody's time and money, aren't they? I knew you would think so. I challenge you to go and buy and read the book "The Case for Mars" by Dr Robert Zubrin, PhD for a nuts and bolts engineering discussion about settling the Red Planet, or his follow-on book, "Entering Space", equally as good. I hope then you have a change of heart.
2006-09-12 14:41:00 · answer #4 · answered by Sciencenut 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're not the only one but ask someone who is being kept alive by a pacemaker whether or not it's worth it. That came right out of the sace program, just like electronic calculators, Velcro and the computer you sent that message with. Next time you see a weather forecast or use a GPS unit or watch a TV show live from Europe or get on an airliner or etc. etc.etc...
Is it worth it? Try to imagine life without it.
2006-09-12 12:37:12 · answer #5 · answered by kevpet2005 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No,but I don't agree with you. The space program may not amount to much now,but it's an investment in the future.
Maybe someday we'll develop the technology to live on other planets,instead of being totally dependent on Earth and eventually
going the way of the dinosaurs.
2006-09-12 12:37:36 · answer #6 · answered by Alion 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're not the only one, but those of you who do think so are in the minority. The rest of us look upon you as the same kind of people who think the moon landings were faked, the mafia killed Kennedy, Bush arranged for 9/11 and believe that the world is flat. You are probably waiting on the mother-ship to come and pick you up and take you to your Utopian society.
2006-09-13 09:03:59 · answer #7 · answered by sparc77 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should have been an advisor to Ferdinand and Isabella: why waste your money on this guy Columbus, when the cash needed for his three ships could better be spent eliminating all the poverty in Spain forever.
2006-09-12 13:25:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anne Marie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are things in space that are not on earth that could be beneficial for us to discover. It doesn't do any good to limit our science and research.
"Millions of dollars" are not going to go very far to clean up our country. Maybe we could feed some of the poor with that and make them stronger so they could beg some more.
Speaking of NASA the internet wouldn't be what it is today without NASA.
2006-09-12 12:29:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do a little bit more research in the world around you & find out just exactly what NASA has done that makes your life easier every day that you aren't even aware of. Then, if you still feel the need to make such sweeping generalizations of negative nature, please add specifics and details that offer insight into the reasoning for your position.
2006-09-12 12:30:44 · answer #10 · answered by Shadow 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
we must learn, this is planet school. it is a gift that we have the capacity to reach the stars. what we waste is on plenty but not on studying outer space, our minds have expanded past space, what should we do when one comes up with these concepts, be assured that the universe is unfolding as it should...
2006-09-12 12:38:00 · answer #11 · answered by lee f 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋